Health & Wellness

We love the flavor of ground beef hamburgers as much as the next person, but sometimes--especially when one is watching their waistline--the extra calories that generally come with burgers make one, begrudgingly, pass on a hamburger and head straight to the salad. Good news! You can slim down your burgers in a variety of ways, and beyond the burger. Here are some tips and tricks for reconstructed hamburgers so you can keep them on your menus.

Instead of the traditional white hamburger bun, reach for the whole wheat bun. And better yet, swap the hamburger bun for a lettuce leaf. If you’re at a cookout and the only thing available is white hamburger buns, you can skip the bun altogether or use only the bottom half for an open-face burger.

Instead of making monster burgers, make sliders. They’re the perfect guilt-free size for satisfying a hamburger craving. And you can load it up with your favorite fresh toppings, from classic garnishes like lettuce, onion, and tomato to feta or salsa or sautéed mushrooms.

Make vegetarian burgers. From lentils, onions, mushrooms, and breadcrumbs to Portobello mushrooms, and more, veggie burgers are low in calories, cholesterol, and fat.

Just because you’re on track to lose weight doesn’t mean you have to give up classic favorites like hamburgers. It just means you have to get a little creative! Your taste buds will thank you for the new flavors, and your waistline will thank you for the effort in reducing calories.

In Season

Matters of the heart are always important, but especially so during the month of February. Not only is there Valentine's Day to think about, February is also American Heart Month. This is a good time to evaluate your food choices and the impact they may have on your heart. Fresh, in season fruits and vegetables are among the best choices you can make for your heart health.